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@uitrit tutr hutent @ffice ALMON B. IVES, 4OF BLOOMI'NGTON, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 72,859, dated .December 31, 1867.

IMPROVED METALLIC COLUMN FOR BRIDGES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ALMONB. IVEs, of Bloomington, inthe county of McLean, and State of Illinois, h are invented new and useful"Metallic Column for Bridges, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part ot' this spec1eation, in which- Figure 1 represents the side elevation, and

Figure 2 another side elevation of the column.

Figure 3 the plan ofthe cap, and

Figure 4 the plan ofthe foot ofthe column.

Figures 5 and 6 represent the position of columnsin a. bridge.

The object of my invention is to produce cheaper, more convenient, and easier means to construct abutmcnts and piers for bridges; and its nature consists in a cast-iron column, consisting of two substantial arms, bolted at the top and spread at the foot, connected with sufficient number of cross-braces, and each provided with a half-cap, and a foot or shoe; the halt`caps oi` each arm forming the capot` the column.

To enable others skilled in theart to make and use my invent-ion, I will proceed to describe its construetion and operation. i

A is the column, B B are the arms of the column, in casting which the same mould is used. C is the cap ofthe column formed of two haltcaps c c of the arms, their outside edges turned up to keep chords in their places. The ribs R R of the arms form flanges, and are provided with holes for bolts a a that secure together the upper end of the arms, and bolts b to secure brace or braces D in their places. The outer ribs of the arms are also provided with holes d dfr the purpose of securing timbers or planksxto them Awhen the column is used for abutments. There are holes ff in the caps, with which only those columns are provided which are used for wooden bridges, for the purpose of securing to them the lower chords. The foot ofeach arm H is provided with holes also for the purpose of securing the same to theifoundations. The columns may be made of any length, and of any dimensions, according to the strength and dimensions of the bridge required. l

Y lor putting up the abutments generally two columns are used to each abutment; four columns in all being sufficient for an iron bridge of one hundred and thirty to one hundred and 'fifty feet span. For longer iron bridges, two columns are used in place of a pier, the number of -pairsof columns depending upon the length of the bridge. For wooden bridges, not less than four columns have to be used to form a pier. The foundations in deep rivers, and in sandy or shifting bottoms, are prepared in a usual way by means of coffer-dams, or piling, on which thc columns rest, and to which they are secured. In building the abutments, the space between the columns and the embankment is lled in, and timbers put up in the shape of wings, and bolted to the flanges ofthe columns.

The advantages of the above-described columns are that they aiord cheap means to have solid and durable abutments and piers for bridges, replacing with advantage the masonry, which is costly. Besides this,'they are easily handled, and can be shipped from the foundry to any distance and place. Experience shows that they are particularly valuable in places where no quarries of good stone can be found.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

The cast-iron column A, consisting of two arms B B, constructed as'described, and proridcd with ribs or ilanges R R, cap c, and foot or shoe H, said arms bolted nt the top and spread at the foot, and connected by one or more braces I), substantially as and in the manner herein set forth ;A said column A to be nsed for abutments and piers in .iron and wooden bridges, substantially as and in the manner herein described and specified.

ALMON B. IVES Witnesses:

J. B. TURCHING,

L. H. LANE. 

